Stage 773 Launches THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES

Providing fun, affordable weekend entertainment for all ages, Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, is proud to present the cheeky, family-friendly quartet of comedy, with the launch of THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES, featuring unique afternoon shows on select Saturdays at 2 p.m.Stage 773 leads the series with their presentation of the award-winning all-silent, all-funny BRI-KO. Barrel of Monkeys’ hit show THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA is an ever-changing showcase of sketches and songs adapted from stories written by children, performed by grownups, and enjoyed by everyone. Theatre Unspeakable presents physical comedy at a new level as they bring up the house with SUPERMAN 2050, showcasing seven actors sharing a 3-by-7 foot space in a futuristic man-of-steel tale, and THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, evoking the historical time period two feet off the ground using only the actors bodies, voices, and (pantomimed) cannons.

“We are so thrilled to be able to offer THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES at Stage 773,” says Stage 773 Director of Programs Amanda Long. “There are four unique, hilarious shows running now and more on the way. We are creating this series with the whole family in mind. Everyone will be able to share in the laughter.”

Simple tasks become riotously complicated in BRI-KO. In this non-verbal comedy experience presented by Stage 773, clowning-meets-sketch as audiences lose themselves in the performers’ joyous, upbeat world. Filled with audience participation, incredible costumes, and mind-blowing props and visuals, BRI-KO is universally appealing and fun for the whole family. The performers’ all-silent, all-hilarious show won the 2014 Second City Best of the Fest Award at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. Nina Metz of The Chicago Tribune said, “If I were you, I’d do everything in my power to get a ticket!”

Presented by Barrel of Monkeys, THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA is a variety show of short sketches and songs adapted from stories written by 3rd through 5th graders in Barrel of Monkeys’ arts education programs. The weekly show, now in its 19th season, runs the gamut from clever and funny to touching and poignant, and includes live music, original song-and-dance numbers, wigs and props galore, and a rotating cast of talented professional actors who celebrate the imaginations of children through this raucous all-ages performance.

Two hilarious Theatre Unspeakable company shows present renowned physical comedy and continues THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES. In Superman 2050, performers put on an epic story with pocket proportions. Seven actors share one tiny platform, just 3-by-7 feet of space, and, upon it, an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, the show’s imaginative, resourceful cast members use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor for the future of the Midwest’s beloved high-speed rail network. Superman 2050 is theater at its most physical and imaginative.

Theatre Unspeakable’s THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION presents hilarious history in under an hour. Seven actors, two feet off the ground, share 21 square feet of space to recreate the entire American fight for independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Using only the actor’s bodies, voices and pantomimed weaponry, the show evokes an epic time period in American history. Combining tongue-in-cheek humor with a dash of derring-do, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION rounds out THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES and displays Theater Unspeakable’s rowdy brand of bare-boned and imaginative physical theater.

THE INOFFENSIVE THEATRE SERIES’ shows run between 50 and 75 minutes in the Box Theater on select Saturdays at 2 p.m. Patrons have the option to purchase a $75 flex pass, which is valid for 10 tickets to use however they please (all at once, two at a time, etc.) Regular tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased at www.Stage773.com or by calling773.327.5252.

About Stage 773

Stage 773 is a vibrant anchor of the Belmont Theatre District and home to Chicago’s finest off-Loop talent. As a performance and tenant venue, our four stages provide entertainment for everyone: comedy, theatre, dance, musicals and more. We are a not-for-profit, connecting and catalyzing the theater community, while showcasing established artists and incubating up-and-coming talent.